Sholing 0 Hamworthy United 0

Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round (Saturday 8th September 2018)

After two hard fought victories in the earlier rounds, this was not the best draw United could have wished for, having to travel to the Universal Stadium to meet the current leaders of the Wessex Premier League. The hosts were yet to drop a point after playing four league games and had scored 15 times and conceded only 2 goals. United’s Dan Cann and Sam Bayston had to miss out through suspension, and the returning Adam Costello perhaps a little unlucky to only make the bench.
The Boatmen created the first real chance on 7 minutes. A high ball was pinging about the six yard box, before Lee Wort, who was making his 400th appearance for the hosts, glanced his header just over the bar, with Tom Rees unusually a little hesitant to clear. River Smith was then unable to make the best of two good scoring chances. After taking the ball into a good shooting position, and before he could get his shot away he allowed Dan Miller to clear the ball against him and out for a goal kick. He then took one pace too many before seeing another effort deflected off Sholing keeper Ryan Gosney which was then hooked away by Owen Roundell. An uncharacteristic slip by Nathan Walker almost handed the hosts the lead on the quarter hour. Thinking the ball was about to go out of play for a goal kick, the United captain was "robbed" by Wort who teed the ball up perfectly for Alex Sawyer on the edge of the area. Sawyer's low shot was destined to find the bottom left corner of the net, but Rees was again United's savior, by getting a good hand to the ball. Nat Peprah-Annan did well to react quickly, and clear the follow up to safety. With Sholing now proving to be United's best opponents this season, their danger man Dan Mason saw his powerful shot on the turn stay low, but just missing the far post by less than a yard. United, despite now being camped predominantly in their own half, still looked assured and deservedly held on to parity until the interval. Despite a couple of individual defensive errors which they got away with, their back line again looked very solid. They closed down the Sholing attack at every opportunity, with Rees also getting a good punch on a couple of awkward corners.
H/T 0-0
The second period followed much the pattern as the first. Sholing had the majority of possession, particularly in the latter stages, but a magnificent United rearguard kept them at bay. Rees made a neat early save following a shot on the turn by Mason. Peprah-Annan did very well to block out Bradley Targett's effort in the 75th minute, after which Rees produced his second excellent save. He used his wrists superbly to tip over Mason's snap shot destined for the top corner, which he must have seen very late. A couple of minutes later, Roundell spurned a great opportunity for the hosts by heading into the side netting when in space at the far post. Substitute Eddie Hodge did get the ball in the net following some hesitation in the Sholing defence, but the Assistant Referee had raised his flag for off-side. In the dying minutes, a splendid shot from range by Jamie Bulpitt just missed the far upright. At the final whistle, the Hammers' troops were given a deserved applause from their contingent of travelling fans which had swelled the crowd to 230. While it was not a winning performance, it was still a good one. The team as a whole again stuck to their game plan, which made it very hard for Sholing to break them down. The back four deserve special mention. Chris Senior and Nathan Walker used their height to claim anything in the air, Declan Randall kept the dangerous Wort reasonably quiet while Peprah-Annan gave a solid performance. Jamie Gleeson also had a fine match. The Boatmen will certainly not fancy coming to Hamworthy for Tuesday night's replay, having to cope with 3G pitch as well as the return of top marksman Dan Cann. The Hammers now remain one of only three Wessex teams (including of course Sholing) with an interest in the competition.
F/T 0-0
Hamworthy United: T Rees, N Peprah-Annan, D Randall, S Wright, N Walker (c), C Senior, J Filkins, J Gleeson, R Smith (E Hodge 65), E Batista (O Davis 85), R Watkins
Unused Subs: A Costello, J Tregaskas, P Smith, J Rowe, N Patrick

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